Bill Summary – FastDemocracy

SENATE RULES COMMITTEE                                                      SR 108
Office of Senate Floor Analyses
(916) 651-1520 Fax: (916) 327-4478
                                   THIRD READING
Bill No:      SR 108
Author:       Nguyen (R), et al.
Introduced:   8/5/24
Vote:         Majority
SUBJECT: California Pickleball Day
SOURCE: Author
DIGEST: This resolution designates, in perpetuity, August 8 as California
Pickleball Day.
ANALYSIS: This resolution makes the following legislative findings:
1) Pickleball was invented in 1965 in Bainbridge Island, Washington by Joel
   Pritchard, a congressman from Washington, and Bill Bell, a successful
   businessman, who sought to play badminton on an old badminton court, but
   could not find the proper equipment.
2) Pritchard and Bell improvised and played with table tennis paddles and a
   perforated plastic ball. They began with the net at a badminton net height of 60
   inches high and volleyed the ball back and forth over the net. Eventually as
   play progressed during the weekend, they found the ball bounced well on the
   asphalt surface and they would eventually lower the net to 36 inches high.
3) The following weekend, Barney McCallum joined to play and Pritchard, Bell,
   and McCallum created the rules for Pickleball. By 1967, the first permanent
   pickleball court was constructed in the backyard of Pritchard’s friend and
   neighbor, Bob O’Brian.
4) In 1972, a corporation was formed to protect the sport and in 1975, the
   National Observer wrote for the first time about pickleball. Tennis magazine
   followed this with an article about America’s newest racquet sport in 1976.
5) By spring 1976, the first known tournament in the world was held at South
   Center Athletic Club in Tukwila, Washington. Team ONIX’s Steve Paranto
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    placed second and David Lester won Men’s Singles. Because this was such a
    new sport and players knew so little about it, at the time of the tournament,
    they practiced with large wood paddles and a softball-sized whiffle ball.
6) In 1978, a book called The Other Racquet Sports was published and it included
   information about pickleball. Four years later, Sid Williams began playing and
   organizing tournaments in Washington.
7) The first pickleball rulebook was published in 1984 by the United States
   Amateur Pickleball Association, which is committed to the growth and
   advancement of the sport. Sid Williams served as the executive director and
   president from 1984 to 1998 and Frank Candelario followed him until 2004.
8) By 1990, pickleball was being played in all 50 states. Two years later, Pickle-
   Ball, Inc. manufactured pickleballs in-house with a custom drilling machine.
   By 1999, the first ever pickleball website launched called Pickleball Stuff.
9) In 2001, pickleball was introduced in the Arizona Senior Olympics drawing
   100 players, which was the largest event to be played at that point. Later,
   events would begin growing to nearly 300 players. By 2003, Pickleball Stuff
   would list 39 known places to play in North America, including in 10 states, 3
   Canadian provinces, and 150 individual courts.
10) In 2005, the USA Pickleball Association (USAPA) was established. Three
    years later, the USAPA Rules Committee published an official rulebook.
    Pickleball was included for the first time in the National Senior Games
    Association. Good Morning America aired a live segment on pickleball for the
    first mass media exposure for the sport. The first USAPA National
    Tournament was held in 2009 and drew almost 400 players from 26 states and
    several Canadian provinces.
This resolution designates, in perpetuity, August 8 as California Pickleball Day.
Comments
According to the author:
      Pickleball combines elements of well-known games such as tennis and
      badminton and adapts the style of play and some of the rules into a game
      that has taken California and the country by storm. Enjoyed by the young
      and the young at heart, Pickleball fulfills the intention of the inventors by
      creating a game that the whole family can come together and enjoy,
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     regardless of age or ability. SR 108 declares August 8th as California
     Pickleball Day and encourages all Californians to pick up a paddle and head
     to their local park or recreational facility for a match or two.
FISCAL EFFECT: Appropriation: No          Fiscal Com.:    No    Local: No
SUPPORT: (Verified 8/7/24)
None received
OPPOSITION: (Verified 8/7/24)
None received
Prepared by: Holly Hummelt / SFA / (916) 651-1520
8/7/24 14:34:53
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